Adjustable register stop



March 12, 1963 H. WEBER 3,081,080 ADJUSTABLE REGISTER sToP Filed March 27. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY ATTYS.

March 12, 1963 H. WEBER 3,081,080

ADJUSTABLE REGISTER sToP Filed March 27. 1961 4 sheets-sheet 2 "l, i j 2: w50 20 l j i4- Y f1 l I d I J ATTYS.

H. WEBER ADJUSTABLE REGISTER STOP March 12, 11963 4 .Sheets-Sheet 5 Fil-Bd .March 27, 1961 .DWR s n 9 4 NE T A mw MT M w mw 1w r FE1: n T. l El S M 4 w H 8 M I. um... G G E w. 002 w HH o b 0 LI w 7W la Fm m March 12, 1963 H, WEBER ADJUSTABLE REGISTER STOP 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 27, 1961 INVENTon, HANSPETER WEBER ATTYS.

United States Patent M' v 3,081,080 ADEUSTABLE REGISTER STOP Hanspeter Weber, Haddontield,- NJ., assigner to Samuel M. Langston Company, Camden, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar.y 27, 1961, Ser. No. 98,356 1 Claim. (Cl. 271-60) The present invention relates broadly to apparatus in which flat sheets or blanks of relatively stii material are fed intermittently to and through one or more` work stations successively, and then into an ejecting station. More specifically, the invention relates to a means for adjusting for out-offregister of flat sheets or blanks of relatively stiff material such as paperboard, metal, plastic or fabric, fed one at a time from a magazine or hopper, and then through one or more Work stations successively to an ejecting station for depositing onto a stack or take away conveyor. l

While the invention is capable of broad application, it is particularly suited to provide means in the nature of a plurality of adjustable sheet feed stops for correcting for out-"ofregister of sheets of corrugated board or fiber cardboard material being fed from a vertical stack type hopper or magazine in an automatic die-cutting press which has a feeding station, a die-'cutting station, a discharging station, and in some instances a scrap stripping 'station prior to the discharging station. Apparatus of this nature are disclosed in greater detail in `cop'er`iding applications assigned to a common assignee with the present application as follows: Serial No. 492,897, led March 8, 1955, now US. Patent No. 3,004,456, entitled Improvement in Machine for Performing Operations on Sheet Materials; Serial No. 827,658, filed July 1'6, 1959, entitled Blank or Sheet Gripper; and Serial No. 836,682, filed August 28, 195,9, entitled Intermittent Motion Drive Mechanism.

Only so much of details of these constructions as a're required for an understanding of the present invention, are incorporated in this application, and reference is made to the aforementioned co-pending applications for details of construction and such disclosure in the co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference.

When making production runs, such as on a die-cutting press, there are situations resulting in the necessity of adjustable means for `r`eregistering or repositioning a sheet in the work station or stations after the initial set-up` has been made. Sheets from a sheet cut-oft operation may be too long or too short to permit obtaining Vthe right `amount of scrap trim on the leading and/or trailing edge of the sheets. In some instances, the Vset-up needs additional adjustment or refinement. When a rerun of a previous set-up is to be made and in intervening runs an adjustment has been r'nade to compensatefor outside limit material, a readjust'rnent may be required to zero in the blank with the work stations.v It sometimes also occurs that the printed pattern or design on a batch of sheets is not registered properly with Vthe leading or gaging edge of the sheets in that particular batch and this situation frequently exists.

I The meot-registration resulting from any of these abovementioned situations may not only vary from the ideal bya greater or less distance from `the leading or gaging edge, but also may result in out-of-square registration with the leading edge. Such circumstances of improper registration can be -compensated for in different Ways. The die chase and matching impression plate in the die-cutting station may be Vadjusted forward, backward, or diagonally, and the upper and lower matching Vor mating parts in the other station -or stations adjusted a like amount. Another method resides in adjustment -of sheet feed stops, either forward or backward, or adjusted 3,081,080 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 ICC 0n a diagonal line to compensate for the improper registration, and the present invention is concerned with this latter method.

It has been found that providing means for adjusting the die chase with the matching impression and the matin-g parts in the otherV work station or stations, requires incorporation of design features which are complicated, expensive, require considerable time to adjust, and might well be beyond the capability of a machine operator to adjust properly. This type of adjustment means used during production runs would tend to neutralize advantages gained by a long production run with one set-up, and it is desirable to provide a simpler and quicker means for compensating for this improper registration.

Heretofore, no satisfactory means have been provided in automatically fed platen or rotary die-cutting press mechanisms for re-registering sheets in the work stations after the initial set-up has been made, although attempts have heretofore been made. One previously tried method was to provide a means for adjusting the die chase but not the mating impression plate although this arrangement is not always satisfactory for all situations as the impression plate may have make-ready shims under it and/ or overlays or female -scorers or top` of it. If the impression plate is not also adjusted, however, the functions of the shims and particularly the overlays for solid fiber board will be impaired.

While it is possible to compensate for out-of-registration by providing shims on the face of the sheet stops or the face of the sheet clamp type grippers where the sheet leading edge hits these stops or sheet grippers, proper adjustment for re-registration in this arrangement requires adjusting the sheet gripper bar chain drive sprockets for moving the leading edge forward, and shims on the faces of the stops or grippers to move the leading edge backwards. Such an arrangement is not only clumsy but unsatisfactory in operation.

It is accordingly a main object of the present invention to provide adequate means for making this important adjustment which results in improvements in the quality of the product being treated and to overcome the drawbacks of previously known and tried methods and devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for repositioning of sheets being fed into and through a die press to compensate for out-of-registration to give proper trim for scrap when the sheet is shorter or longer than the desired length, and to compensate for out-of-registration in subsequent work stations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide mechanism which permits easy adjustment for compensating for out-of-registration of printed patterns or designs With respect to the leading or gag-ing edge, and provides for repositioning the sheet to compensate for improper registration either forwa1d or backward, and also when out-ofsquare with the leading edge.

The present invention also incorporates means for adjusting all 'stops individually or all together, the same amount simultaneously,

Additional objects and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof when taken ytogether with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of mechanism according, to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view, Ypartly in section, taken on line 3 3` of FlG. 1;

FIG; 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view indicating the amount of adjustment of the stops permissible in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing different types of improper registration and adjustment to compensate therefor;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a diiferent modiication of the invention with non adjustable stops;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of an end of the mechanism of FIG. 7 showing details of construction;

FIG. 9 is an elevational View taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional View taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the modified form of FIG. 7 as applied to the apparatus;

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on line 12H12 of FIG. 1l;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. ll; and

FIG. l4 is an elevational view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 1l.

Referring now to the various gures of the drawings, like reference characters are applied to similar parts thereof.

The over-all machine to which the present invention is applied, is shown in detail in the aforementioned application Serial No. 836,682 to which references are made for details. Only so much of the machine as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention is shown and described herein. Work sheets 20, which consist for example of sheets from which box blanks are to be formed, are stacked upon a feed table 22 in a usual way with their leading edges abutting front stops 24 or the like. The sheets are adapted to be fed individually from the bottom of the stack by any known feeder mechanism, and ultimately fed to a working station such as in a platen press generally designated 26 consisting of an upper die mount 28 having a die 30 and die chase 32 of a usual type as also a trim knife 34 or the like. A lower die mount 36 mounts an impression plate 38 having a groove 40 therein. A front end table extension 42 is provided in the usual manner. Sprocket wheels 44 are rotatably mounted on each side of the apparatus and at the entry and discharge ends, and sprocket chains 46 are entrained therearound. A plurality of spaced feeder bars 48 are connected between the two sprocket chains in parallel relationship and carry a plurality of impaling tines or barbs generally designated 50 along one edge thereof in spaced relationship and adapted for impaling the leading edge of a sheet 20` to move the same into and out of the various Working stations in timed sequence with various components of the machine, all as described in more detail in my aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 836,682. Also as shown in this co-pending application, a deector mechanism is provided and includes a plurality of components transversely spaced on a register gate shaft 52 adapted to deflect the leading edge of a sheet downwardly to a certain extent so that the leading edge will not catch on the hooks or barbs. The sheets are pushed by the feed mechanism into registry with a register gate consisting of a plurality of spaced stops 54 mounted on register stop brackets 56 mounted on the register gate shaft 52 and keyed thereto as shown in FIG. 4. A stop support per se 57 carries the stops 54 by means of screws or the like at 59, and this mechanism will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Deector plates 58 and 60 in the deector mechanism serve to guide the sheet and deflect it downward-ly. The segmental deflector plates 60 serve to catch Warped sheets. The deector plate 58 is continuous and carried by arms 62 rotatable on shaft 52 and is spring loaded by coil springs 64 of interconnecting means for arm 62. and arms 66 fixed on shaft 52. The arm 62 can be rotated on the .shaft approximately 10 by compressing the springs.

The register gate, as pointed out hereinbefore, consists of a plurality of individual plate like stops 54 spaced along the width of the machine and in between the barbs 50. The function of the stops is to position the leading edge of the sheet 20 in an exact relation to a feeder bar 48, which means also in an exact relation to a cutting die in the cutting section and stripping dies in a stripping section.

As the sheet advances, the deflectors direct the leading edge of the sheet to pass under the barbs 50 and the blank is then stopped or positioned by the various stops 54 which are mounted on the stop support 57. The stop supports 57 are slidably mounted on stripper bolts 68 in screw-threaded engagement with the register stop brackets 56, and is prevented from rotating by stripper bolt 70. Stripper bolt 68 is bolted tight in register stop bracket 56 which moves down to the position shown to receive a blank and moves up when the indexing takes place, as disclosed in application Serial No. 836,682. Sandwiched between stripper bolt 68 and the register stop bracket 56 is a cup washer 72 which holds a compression spring 74 in place.

This compression spring 74 holds the stop support 57 tightly against register `adjusting nut 76. An arresting pin 78 is fastened in stop support 57 as shown in FIG. 4, and is adapted to snap into one of a plurality of steps -80 for-med in the face of register adjusting knob 76 to prevent this from rotating and to provide a self-locking feature. This register adjusting knob 76 has steps which vary in depth 1/,-2" progressively. The large diameter is knurled at 82 to permit knob adjustments by hand. By turning this knob, the spring pressure first has to be overcome and then the stop support moves to the right and snaps into the next step.

A plurality of numbers 84 are stamped on the periphery or diameter of the knob 76 to indicate the position of the stop. Since the arresting pin 78 is below the stripper pin or bolt 68, the numbers are stamped on the opposite side so that the -adjusted position can be read from the top.

The amount of adjustment of the stops to reduce the length beyond the barbs 50 is limited, since for good pulling power for feeding purposes, the barbs must not be engaged too close to the edge of the sheet. This same problem would exist when using different types of grippers since the blank would slip out of this type of gripper when -too short a length of sheet is engaged.

In the other or opposite direction, there is no such limit to the amount of adjustment. In one design of this mechanism, a dimension of adjustment indicated at 86 in FIG. 5 has been chosen as 1A for position of the barbs with respect to the leading edge of the sheet. This is the standard or neutral position. The extremes for this dimension '86 are 5/32" and 1/2". The stops can be moved in increments of 376,2". Designs to adjust the stops to any position is possible, of course, and will be readily `apparent to those skilled in the art. In one practical embodiment of the invention, the numbers stamped on the adjusting knob represent the dimension 86 in increments of 1/16, and intermediate positions are not marked due to limited space on the knob.

Pressure means such as shown in detail in co-pending application Serial No. 836,682, are utilized and includes a bracket such as at 88 in FIG. 1 splined on shaft 52 and carrying `a downwardly depending adjustable position bolt 90 for eng-agement with the upper surface of barbs 50 when the shaft `52 is rotated into the down position. A pressure foot `92 provided with a groove 94 i mounted for vertical reciprocation to coact with the aarbs and bolt 90 to impale the sheets on the barbs in the manner set forth in my co-pending application.

With this arrangement -as previously described, it is possible to adjust individually each of the stops 54 by rotation of and adjustment of the register ladjusting nut in a manner which will be obvious. Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, there is schematically shown a plurality of mis-alignment or faulty registration of the sheets which can be compensated for by adjustment `of the stops 54. The sheet shown in 4full lines at 20a is mis-shaped since the portion at the leading edge to be trimmed is not parallel with the sides of the blank as designated in broken lines at 2017 so that the stops have been -adjusted to correctly position and align the portion designated 20b. If desired, a further Iadjustable means for the sheet feed mechanism indicated at 96 in the nature of fingers can also be adjusted in a manner similar to the stops 54. As indicated in `dotted lines lat 20c in FIG. 6, a sheet again having the printed portion or other to be utilized indicated in broken lines in 20d, has not been ladjusted and it will be readily apparent that if th-is sheet were moved into engagement with non-'adjusted stops there would be no compensation Ifor out-of-registration of what will be the die-cut design in relation to the leading or gaging edge of the sheet so `as to give proper trim for scrap when the sheet is shorter or longer than the desired length or when some other -condition of out-of-registration, as referred to hereinbefore, exists.

'In the foregoing embodiment of the invention, each of the stops is individually adjustable. Under some circumstance, however, it is desirable that all of the stops be adjusted simultaneously. Referring to lFIGS. 7-12 inclusive, mechanism whereby this can be accomplished is shown in the drawings. It is to be understood that the basic portions of the machine are the same in this embodiment, and -accordingly have been given similar reference characters.

In this embodiment, however, the register gate shaft 98, which is movably mounted, carries thereon a sleeve 100 which is rotatable with respect to the shaft. A collar 102 is secured to the shaft by a pin or the like 104 and engages one end of the sleeve for positioning the same.

At the other end of the sleeve, a slot 106 is provided and a limiting collar 108 fastened to the shaft -by a pin 110 has a projection 112 engageable in the slot for limiting rotational movement of the sleeve on the shaft. Register stop brackets 114 are secured on the sleeve 100 in'spaced arrangement therealong similar to the other embodiment, and are secured Aby means of set screws 116 or the like. Stops 118 are attached to the stop brackets by bolts I120. The stops 118 in this 'embodiment .are not individually adjustable but are in fixed position with respect to the register stop brackets and the shaft.

Adjustment of the position of all of these stops simultaneously is possible due to the following construction. The side frames of the machine indicated at 122 have openings provided therein at 124 which as shown in FIG. 9 have upper and lower at surfaces 126 and circular side surfaces 128. The ends of shaft 98 are provided with flat upper and lower surfaces at 130 by grinding or the like, and these kare inserted in the openings 124 with the respective at surfaces thereof in sliding engagement. A vertical elongated hole 132 is drilled in the shaft end extending between the at surfaces 130. An eccentric member 134 has la larger off-set portion 136 extended into the vertical elongated hole 132 and of -a coacting diameter therewith. A small diameter portion 138 is rotatably mounted in `a bore 140 in the frame and the opposite end extends out through a bushing 142 formed in the frame and in boss 144 thereon. The outer end of the smaller diameter 138 is screw-threaded and secured with the bushing. A washer 146 having a finger 148 thereon which s'erves as Ia pointer for coaction` with indicating indicia 150 formed on boss 144 is mounted on the end of the eccentric. 'This portion of the eccentric has a groove 152 therein and the washer 146 has a finger 154 inserted in the groove. A hand wheel 156 is engaged on the end of the eccentric and secured thereon by a nut 158. It will be seen, by reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, that the outer ends of shaft 98 are rounded at `160. A cover plate i162 closesl the openings 124 and additionally serves to restrict movement of the shaft from a set position.

Both ends of .the shaft are provided with the eccentric means and it will be apparent, upon rotation ofthe hand wheel, that .the eccentric will cause a movement of an end of the shaft :from a position indicated 98a in full lines in FIG. 8, to a position 9:81; in broken lines. This permits angular movement of the shaft with respect to the longitudinal plane of the apparatus, and to angularly off-set `all of the stops simultaneously. The ilat sur-faces in the opening and on the shaft end prevents a rotation of .the shaft. lSince each end can be adjusted, it is possible lwith this arrangement to move the shaft either forward or baclcward while maintaining the stops in proper transverse planes and/or adjust the plane of the stops angularly in either -direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device. A retracted position of the sleeve is indicated -at 10U-a in FIG. 7 and an advanced position at 100b.

Means generally designated 164 are provided for rocking the sleeve and accordingly the stops thereon.

The rounded ends 'of :the shaft permit .the angular movement as will 'be readily apparent.

Mani-festly `minor changes in details of construction can be effected in the Iapparatus without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in and solely limited by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a machine for intermittently transferring sheets of material into and out of work stations, including .gripper means for engaging a leading edge of a `sheet and subsequently moving said sheet through the mach-ine, a rotatably mounted register gate shaft, a plurality of sheet leading edge engaging register stops spaced transversely of the machine mounted on said register gate shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted lon said lshaft and interposed between said shaft and said register stops, a collar secured to said shaft and engaging one end of .said sleeve for positioning the same, lsaid sleeve having a slot at the opposite end thereof, -a limiting collar having a projection thereon engageable in said slot secured to the shaft 4for limiting rotational movement ofthe sleeve on the shaft, side frames of the machine having openings therein with upper and lower flat surfaces `and circular side surfaces, the ends of said shaft having flat upper and lower surfaces inserted in said openings -in sliding engagement therein, a vertically disposed elongated opening in said shaft extending between said fiat surfaces, and an eccentric member having a portion extending into said vertical elongated hole and a smaller portion extending therefrom, hand wheels on the outer end of said eccentric, said handwheel being operable upon rotation to move said eccentric and therethrough the end Iof said shaft with respect to the side frames whereby all said register stops can be adjusted for-ward, backward and `angularly of the longitudinal axis of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,009 `Bakke Dec. 5, 19111 2,297,715 Nordstrom Oct. 6, 1942 2,888,262 Montgomery lMay 26, 1959 2,929,703 Whyte .Tune 7, 1960 

